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Auction: 9004 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 954

The Second World War B.E.M. Gazetted for ´Tobruk 1942´ Group of Seven to Warrant Officer Class II G.E. Flook, Royal Durban Light Infantry, South African Forces, With a Superb Official Recommendation Relating to His Escape from Captivity and his Subsequent Story-book Exploits Assisting the Resistance with Sabotage in Italy, Escaping to Switzerland, and After Internment and Release Serving with the Maquis Rising on the Day of the Allied Landing in the South a) British Empire Medal, Military Division, G.VI.R. (7092 Sgt. George E. Flook. 2 R.D.L.I.) b) 1939-1945 Star c) Africa Star d) War Medal (7092 G.E. Flook) e) Africa Service Medal (7092 G.E. Flook) f) Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., bi-lingual version, with ´Union of South Africa´ scroll suspension (WO11 G.E. Flook - RDLI) g) Coronation 1953 (A5687. W.O.II Flook. G.E. B.E.M. 2nd. R.D.L.I.), privately engraved in large serif capitals, nearly extremely fine (7) Estimate £ 1,000-1,200 B.E.M. London Gazette 14.2.1947 No. 7092 Sergeant George Edward Flook, Union Defence Force ´´In recognition of gallant and distinguished services at Tobruk in 1942.´´ The recommendation states: ´´For gallantry and meritorious service. Sergeant Flook escaped from a P.O.W. train whilst en route to Germany from Italy in September, 1943. He assisted Italian patriots with sabotage work in Italy until December, 1943, when, in collaboration with a German soldier, he escaped into Switzerland, arriving on December 17th, 1943. He was interned there until one week before the Allied landing in Southern France. With the assistance of the Maquis, he escaped from Switzerland and signed papers for service with this body, their H.Q. being at Abchdance under the District Commander Dr. Pulverniss. He was given arms at this point and took part in the Maquis rising on the day of the Allied landing in the south. He arrived at Grenoble just prior to the American capture of that city, and, on reporting to them, was evacuated to South Africa, via Algiers, Italy, and Egypt. He was closely interrogated by the British Authorities in Algiers.´´ Warrant Officer Class II George Edward Flook, B.E.M., born 18.7.1916; enlisted as 7092 Private, 2nd Battalion, Royal Durban Light Infantry, South African Forces, 17.5.1940; Sergeant, 26.2.1941; embarked for the Middle East at Durban on the S.S. Llandaff Castle, 20.7.1941; arrived at Suez, 12.8.1941; served throughout the North African Campaign, and awarded the British Empire Medal for Tobruk, 1942; made Prisoner of War, 20.6.1942; escaped September 1943; served the remainder of the War with the Maquis; discharged, 7.5.1945. Warrant Officer Class II Flook was presented with his British Empire Medal by H.E. The Governor-General at Government House, Pretoria, 14.11.1947.

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£1,300